Debate over free range stocking rates

A Hunter-based free-range egg producer is urging the State Government to block moves by the Egg Corporation to change the definition of free-range to a much higher stocking rate.

The Greens have begun a campaign against the Corporation's plans to increase the free-range stocking density from 1,500 to 20,000 birds per hectare.

Kerry Harvey from Cornucopia Farm at Paterson says her property has a stocking rate of 500 birds per hectare.

She believes that information should be available to consumers, rather than potentially misleading descriptions of farms.

"People are capitalising on the mindset in the public that free-range is better, and they're not necessarily doing it," she said.

"I think it's wonderful there is this debate out there, and hopefully the result will be that there'll be a definition on the label, even if it is only the information about how many birds per hectare you produce."